Loop transferring device



Nov. 19, 1946. H. c. MILLS LOOP TRANSFERRING DEVICE Filed March 4, 1944 Z SheetS-Sheet 1 w T m m Harry 0. Mills.

J; rneys Nov. 19, 1946. c, MILLS 2,411,452

LOOP TRANSFERRING DEVI CE Filed March 4, 1944 2 SheetsSheet 2 IN V EN TOR. J- aYI C. Wills Wifnesaes Patented Nov. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I LOOP TRANSFERRING DEVICE Harry QMills, Rye, N. Y.

Application March 4, 1944, Serial No. 525,027

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of knitting and more particularly to the removal of loops or stitches from a knitting machine. In the manufacture of stockings on tubular knitting machines, the stockings are usually removed from the machine and the stitches picked up by hand in order to close the toe. This requires skilled labor and a considerable amount of time to pick up the stitches.

An object of this invention is to provide a device by which the stocking may be transferred from a round shape to a flat shape so that the stitches may be joined together.

A further object is to provide a means by which stitches or loops may be taken from the needles of any circular or flat, knitting machine and placed in any desired position for stitching or further operations.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the accompanying drawings and description.

Referring more particularly to the drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of my device;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan veiw of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa detail view of a section of the looking ring;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a flexible member adapted to pick up the stitches;

Fig. 5 is a detailed View of the flexible member shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 7; and 8 areviews showing the way a stitch is removed from the needles to the transfer device;

Fig. 9 is a detailed view showing one set of stitches on the transfer device;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing stitches after transfer;

Fig. 11 is a detailed cross sectional view showing the manner in which the transfer member is hinged;

Fig. 12 is a view showing a step in the transfer of the Stitches;

Fig. 13 is a further sectional View of an additional step in the transfer;

Fig. 14 is a view showing the transfer;

Figs. 15 and 16 are views showing the way the transfer is effected mechanically;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of a section of the transfer means;

Fig. 18 is an elevation showing the manner in which the stitches are joined together on the transfer means.

final step in the As previously stated in knitting stockings on a tubular machine, the stocking when finished hangs on the needles within the annular portion of the machine. My device l5 comprises an annular member l6 which may be provided with a ledge l1 and which is hollow. A locking rin I8 is provided with a tensioned clamp I9 to fix it tightly about the wall 20 of the annular member I6.

I provide a pair of flexible tape members 2| and. 22 which may be made of flexible steel or any other material. Each of the members 2| and 22 is provided with a series of teeth 23 in the form of points or quills. These points or quills are U- shaped in cross section at their base 25 and taper at their points 26. They may be welded orotherwise fastened to the flexible members 2| and 22. Each of the points or quills 23 is provided with a cutout portion 2'! adapted to prevent a stitch from slipping off of the point. Members 2| and 22 are preferably joined together by means of hinges 2B and 29 at either end thereof.

The flexible members are placed around the wall 20 of the annular member I6 and clamped into place with the locking rin I8. The entire device l5 may then be placed over the top of a knitting machine so that each needle 30 registers with a point or quill 23 with the sides of the point engaging the needle as shown in Fig. '7.

The stocking 24 may then be pulled upwardly through the center of the device I5 so that each loop of the stocking will be transferred to one of the teeth 23. Before the stocking loops can be removed as described, it is necessary to retract the sinkers and dividers, that is, to release them from holding action. sinkers and dividers may be released from holding action by means of a slotted ring inside the cylinder which can be controlled in any convenient manner so that the entire stocking may be removed from the machine onto the device l5. The locking ring I8 is loosened so that the members 2| and 22 may be removed therefrom and they are then flattened with their inner sides 40 and 4| facing each other. The stitches are then transferred from the lower member 22 to the upper member 2| in the following manner. Hook means 42 engage the top stitches 43 on the member 22 and draw them in the direction of the arrow 44. As the stitch clears the point 26 the hook moves upwardly as shown in Figure 13 and then rearwardly to deposit the stitch on the teeth or points carried by the member 2|. The hook 42 then moves in the direction of the arrow 45 to release the stitches and leave them on the member 2| adjacent to rack 51 on the arm 58. Members 2| and 22 may be locked in position between the bar 60 and the support 6| by means of a cam lever 62 so that the base of the points and needles abuts the bar 60 and the supporting member 6l for securely positioning them in place. The arm 58 moves into position so that the hook 42 engages the stitch 43 and then moves laterally in the direction of the arrow 65. As it clears the lower point 26 bar 55 is rotated thus causing the pinion 56 to rotate on the rack 51 and to turn the hook in a counterclockwise direction as it moves upwardly on the rack with the bar moving upwardly in the direction of the arrow 66. As the pinion turns onthe rack the position of the hook 42 is reversed until it passes the point held by the member 2|. The arm then move inwardly to deposit the stitch 43 alongside of the stitch 46 as shown in Figure 16. At this point the movement of the bar 58 is reversed in the direction of the arrow 65 and the hook 42 releases the stitch, thus completing the operation when a,

suitable needle such as 50 joins the stitches together.

I claim:

1. A loop transferring device including a flexible member having two sides hinged together at both ends, said member being adapted for disposition relative to the needles of a knitting machine, a plurality of concave teeth on 'each side of said member adapted to engage the needles of a knitting machine and to receive the stitches therefrom, said flexible member being collapsible and adapted to fold flat upon itself so that the teeth of one side thereof ar brought near the corresponding teeth on the second side of said flexible member and a hook for each tooth on the one side of said flexible member adapted to engage the stitch on said tooth and to transfer it to the corresponding tooth on the other side of said flexible member.

2. A device for transferring loops including 4 a two piece flexible member hinged together at both ends, said member being adapted for disposition relative to the needles of a knitting machine, and being collapsible and adapted to fold flat upon itself, the one piece thereof upon the other, concave teeth afiixed to the outside of said flexible member, said teeth being adapted to receive the needles of said machine and to receive the loops therefrom, and a hook member for each tooth on the first piece of the flexible member for transferring the loop from said tooth to the corresponding tooth on the second piece of the flexible member.

3. 7 Means for transferring stitches from a knitting machine including a hinged flexible member, a plurality of concave teeth on said member adapted to engage the needles of said knitting machine whereby stitches may be pulled from said needles onto said teeth, said flexible'member being collapsible and being adapted, by means ,of its hinges, to fold flat upon itself, means adapted to transfer the stitches from one side of said flexible member to the other side thereof whereby said stitches of the one side may be readily joined to the stitches of the other side, means comprising a hook member for each pair of teeth and means for moving said hook member successively into engagement with a stitch one. tooth on one side of the flexible member and then around the end of said tooth and around the end of the corresponding tooth on the other side of the flexible member, at the same time bringing said hook into the same position relative to said corresponding tooth which it occupied relative to the first mentioned tooth, whereby the stitch may be transferred to said corresponding tooth.

4. A loop transferring device comprising two sections, each including a flexible, "n'c'irmally straight strip, said strips being hinged together at both ends, a plurality of knittin needle engaging fingers secured to the outside of each said strip, said strips being positionable to align the fingers with the needles, whereby said fingers are adapted to receive the loops therefrom, a ring carrier on Which said strips are positioned'inc'ircular form, and a hook member for each finger on one strip for removing the loop from said finger and transferring it finger on the other strip, said stripslbein foldable for operation of the hook member. T

HARRY to the corresponding 

